Oxytocin and postpartum depression

This subject carries important implications, given that postpartum depression can have detrimental effects on both the mother and her infant , with lifelong consequences for infant socioemotional and cognitive development. Sometimes called the “cuddle hormone” or. INTRODUCTION: Postpartum depression ( PPD ) is prevalent (about ) with a major impact on the mother and child health.

At the hormonal level, poor regulation of oxytocin rate has a key role in depression. Recently, oxytocin has been used on psychiatric therapy, intranasal or intravenously, particularly in mood disorders. A study published January in Depression and Anxiety now suggests women who receive synthetic oxytocin during childbirth may be more likely to experience postpartum depression or anxiety.

The effect of oxytocin on postpartum depression. This “love hormone” is also responsible for uterine contractions. Abstract Background: Postpartum depression is associated with reduced breastfeeding duration.

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The role of oxytocin in the treatment of postpartum depression has been a topic of growing interest.

The small study of women indicates the potential for finding biomarkers to predict depressive symptoms postpartum. Several pathogenic mechanisms have been identified in PP and recently, oxytocin (OT), known to be involved in childbirth and lactation, has drawn attention as a possible diagnostic and therapeutic tool in this. Introduction: Postpartum depression (PPD) is prevalent (about ) with a major impact on the mother and child health.

Washington: A type of love hormone called Oxytocin , which is important in the regulation of social and maternal behaviour, is also found helpful in treatment for many mental health disorders. However, oxytocin levels did predict the severity of postpartum. Stimulating birth with synthetic oxytocin elevates the risk of postpartum depression and anxiety disorders during the year after birth. The use of synthetic oxytocin impacts on mothering behavior, mother-infant bond and breastfeeding.

If impaire a woman may have difficulty with breastfeeding. Oxytocin is involved in milk let-down and the maintenance of lactation. And , if impaire there is a higher risk of postpartum depression. Therefore, the difficulty with breastfeeding as a risk for postpartum depression is in part due to underlying oxytocin problems. The primary goal of this study is to replicate previous findings and clarify whether oxytocin is predictive of clinically significant depression at - weeks postpartum , using a more comprehensive diagnostic measure for depression.

It serves as one part of the hormones required to stimulate love, attraction and monogamy. It plays a critical role in orgasm for both sexes. A new study out of Northwestern suggests that women with a past history of depression and high level of oxytocin may have a higher chance of having postpartum depression. This is interesting, because everything I’ve read to date suggests that lower levels of oxytocin contribute to depression. Oxytocin levels in women with postpartum depression have been found to be lower than levels in women without postpartum depression.

The treatment is aimed at enhancing maternal bonding, reducing postpartum depression (PPD) and anxiety in mothers at risk, and promoting child development. To this en the investigators will test the clinical utility of intranasal (IN) oxytocin (OXT) administered to mothers during the first postpartum days.

The researchers found that levels of oxytocin in mid-pregnancy ‘significantly predicted’ symptoms of postnatal depression two weeks after birth, with the at-risk group characterised by lower oxytocin levels. Of the 1women recruite had complete data and could be included in the analysis. Example, if there is 2ml ‘in the bag’, the woman receives 2ml.